Applying and removing device



April 1941- i J. A. JENSEN 2,239,609

APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1940 s Shets-Sheec 1 JZ FIG: 1 9

INVENTOR; Jamar flxlnsen,

ATTORNEYS.

April 1941- J. A. JENSEN 2,239,609

I APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 19 .0. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

Jizmes fl Jensen,

WWW By April 22, 1941. J. A. JENSEN APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE James A. Jensen, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to Charles E. Frick, J r., J. Rodman McCoy, Elsie T. Heller, John H. Jensen, and James A. Jensen, copartncrs, trading under name of Philadelphia Valve Company, Philadelphia, Pa. 1

Application February 3,

1940, Serial No. 317,058

6 Claims. (01. 29-84) This invention has reference to devices or tools for placing and removing articles normally out of manual reach and, more particularly, to implements designed for grasping an article to be placed or removed. Preferably, the present improvements relate to devices or tools of the wrench type usable for removing and replacing the operative parts of vehicle tank emergency valves whenever desirable or expedient.

The fundamental object of this invention is to provide an applying and removing device that will, for convenience, be hereinafter generally termed a jack-wrench, serve for lifting and replacing the bonnet and associated parts of vehicle tank emergency valves irrespective of the location of said valves with respect to the tank manhole, and without any necessity of the operator entering the vehicle tank. 1

Another object is to provide a jack-wrench, as indicated in the preceding paragraph, which is capable of grasping the valve part or parts to be removed from any reasonable angle with preassurance of being disconnected and assembled with ease.

A further object is to provide a jack-wrench for the above indicated purposes which is simple in construction. and easy to operate ata distance from the article to be removed or replaced; and which is made of a material that will not spark when knocked against the tank inner wall, whereby the hazards of fire and ex-' plosion are eliminated.

Other objects, with ancillary advantages, achieved by this invention will be apparent from or specifically referred to in the following detailed description of a typical embodiment, as illustrated by the accompanying sheets of draw.- ings, while the features of novelty are more definitely expressed in the concluding claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one end of a tank truck showing the improved jack-wrench of this invention in position ready for manipulation to effect release and removal of an emergency valve bonnet and associated parts.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the emergency valve upper part and bonnet with a broken portion f the jack-Wrench of this invention engaged with the valve stem and bonnet top ready for actuation to remove said bonnet and associated valve parts.

Fig. 3 is asimilar vertical section showing the respective parts in a different position, or with the valve and bonnet raised ready for withdrawal from the emergency valve body and lifting out of the tank.

- Fig. 4 is a broken, part elevation and part sectional, view of the jack-wrench of this invention in a preferred form.

Fig. 5- is a plan section, taken as indicated by the arrows V-V in the preceding view.

Fig. 6, Sheet 1, is an elevation of the lower and Wrench portion, taken as indicated by the arrows VIVI in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7, Sheet 1, is a perspective View of a fork component included in the jack-wrench, the same being hereinafter more fully described; and,

Fig. 8, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of a jaw component likewise later on explained in detail.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated by the accompanying three sheets of drawings, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood thatsuch terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Each specific term is intended to include all technical equivalents capable of serving in a similar capacity to accomplish an analogous purpose.

Referring to the drawings with greater particularity, the jack-wrench of this invention comprises a manipulator portion comprehensive ly designated I, with an operatively coordinated grasp means similarly designated as 2. The manipulator portion I comprises a length of tubing'or body portion 3 having one end screwthreaded at 4 for rigid attachment of a fork 5 with a plain bore section 6. At a predetermined distance from the other end of thebody portion 3 is permanently secured as by welding I. a radially-related handle 8; while the proximate end of said body portion is fitted witha rotatable capbushing 9. The cap-bushing 9 is provided with a bore II! for snug passage of a shaft I I, embodying a crank I2 forpurposes of rotation, and said bushing is firmly clamped'on the shaft II, bya set screw I3, at the requisite position to accommodate' joint rotation of the shaft II and capbushing 9.

The inner end of the shaft II is preferably screw-threaded at I4 for attachment thereto of the one component I5 of a conventional ball universal joint It, the other component I! of said joint serving as the coupler with the actuator member I8 for the grasp or wrench means 2, hereinbefore referred to; while a drift pin I9 effectively prevents relative rotation of the parts 14 and I5 after assembly.

The wrench means 2 comprise a yoke member or head embodying spaced coupler portions 2| braced by fillets 22, said coupler portions being provided with aligned apertures 23 for the passage of pivot studs 24, whereby the head 20 is fulcrumed to the corresponding coupler portions of the fork 5, hereinbefore referred to. In order that the parts 2| and 25 may be retained in frictional engagement, with capacity for relative movement, the pivot studs 24 are fitted with castellated nuts 25 and spring washers 21. The head 20 is provided with spaced bores 23, 29, through the former of which passes the plain section of the lifting-screw portion 3| of the actuator If with the adjoining end reduced and screw-threaded at 32 for engagement in the correspondingly threaded bore 33 of the universal-joint component l1, and to which it is fixedly connected by a driftpin 34. Rigidly secured in the bore 29 of the head 20, in parallel with the actuator I8, as by a nut 35 and lock washer 35 is the one reduced end 31 of a guide member 38, the other reduced end 39 whereof is similarly clamped through a bore in the stationary jaw 4| of the grasp means 2. The stationary jaw 4| and movable jaw 42 of the grasp means 2 are substantially complemental with the exception that the former is provided with a second plain bore 43 through which the reduced end 44 of th lifting screw 3| is passed, and clamped thereto by a castellated nut 45 and lock washer 46. On the other hand, the movable jaw 42 is provided with a threaded bore 41 for coaction with the actuator screwthread section 3| as well as a plain bore 48 for sliding coaction with the guide member 39, whereby said member is retained in registration with th stationary jaw 4| in an obvious manner; while a spacing washer 49 prevents the jaws being brought into arrestive engagement. Each jaw 4|, 42 is formed with a fork portion 50 and a concaved face 5| for purposes hereafter set forth.

Having described the improved jack-wrench of this invention, the manner of using and operating the same for removing and replacing will now be set forth, by way of example, in connection with an emergency valve 52, Fig. 1, located in the bottom of a vehicle tank 53 having an access opening or manhole 54. The valve 52 includes a removable bonnet 55 provided with circumferentially spaced latch devices 55 engageable in an annular groove 51 within the valve 52, said latch deviceshaving counterweighting heel portions 58 for coaction with the valve 52; the stem 59 whereof extends upwardly through the bonnet 55 and has a suitable bail-head 60 at its top. In practice the user of the jack-wrench inserts the same through the manhole 54 until the grasp means 2 occupies the approximate position shown in Fig. 1, with the jaws 4|, 42 closed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, whereupon the operator moves the jack-wrench jaw fork portions 5|] into engagement with the valve stem 59, with the stationary jaw concavity 5| seating on top of the bonnet 55, as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be seen that the grasp means 2 is thereby readily positioned and steadied against lateral move ments tending to displacement. The user next grasps the handle 8 firmly in one hand and turns the crank l2 with the other, with resultant rotation of the shaft H and actuator l8, which by means of its screw portion 3| elevates the movable jaw 42 until the concavity 5| of the latter engages below the valve spindle head 69. Continued turning of the crank 2 gradually raises the stem 59 and with it the valve member 6| above the normal lift of the latter, or until said valve engages the heels 58 which rocks the latter on their pivots 62 radially inwards and thereby releases the bonnet 55 in an obvious manner, as clearly understandable from Fig. 3.- The operator can now easily withdraw the bonnet 55 and valve member 6| through the manhole 54 for repair or refacing of said valve member and, by a reversal of the operation just described, readily replace said parts, with consequent secure reattachment of said bonnet to-the valve 52 by automatice snap re-engagement of the latch devices 56 in the groove 51.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that th invention disclosed fully justifies the objects and advantages set forth in the prefatory paragraphs of this specification. It will also be apparent that while a preferred form of the invention has been described for a specific purpose, that said invention is capable of modification and other applications; accordingly the right is hereby reserved to all such changes and modifications reasonably coming within the scope of the following claims and the prior art permits.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an applying and removing device, a tubulate manipulator having a rigid fork at one end and a rotatable cap-bushing at the other; a wrench device including a yoke pivotally connected to the manipulator fork, a stationary jaw, a movable jaw and a coactive screw intermedi ate the stationary jaw and the yoke, said screw having journaled connection with the yoke and stationary jaw and the movable jaw threaded thereon for movement between said yoke and jaw, a coaxial shaft in the manipulator projecting beyond the fork and cap-bushing with rigid connection to the latter; a universal coupling between the proximate ends of said shaft and the wrench device screw; means whereby the manipulator is held stationary; and means for rotating the coaxial shaft to effect opening and closure of the wrench device jaws.

2. In an applying and removing device, a tubulate manipulator having a rigid fork at one end and a rotatable cap-bushing at the other; a wrench device including a yoke pivotally connected to the manipulator fork, a stationary jaw, a movable jaw and a coactive screw intermediate the stationary jaw and the yoke, said screw having one end journaled in the yoke with the other end journaled in the stationary jaw, said movable jaw being threaded on said screw for movement between the stationary jaw and the yoke, a guide member rigidly spacing the yoke and stationary jaw with means confining the movable jaw to reciprocatory movement; a coaxial shaft extending through the manipulator and projecting past the fork and cap-bushing with rigid connection to the latter; a universal coupling between the proximate ends of said shaft and the wrench device screw; means whereby the manipulator is held stationary; and means for rotating the coaxial shaft to effect opening and closure of the wrench device jaws.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the stationary and movable wrench jaws are provided with fork portions, and said portions have counter-related concave faces.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection between the manipulator fork and the wrench device yoke includes adjustable 6. The combination of claim 2, wherein the movable jaw actuating screw is reduced at one end for rotary support by the stationary jaw, and a 'washer on said reduced end. serves to prevent 5 frictional binding of the jaws when closed.

JAMES A. JENSEN. 

